The girl left Pingkangfang and walked south along the streets and lanes under the square wall.
She seemed to be very familiar with the situation in the capital, and she could skillfully avoid the cavalry and hidden sentries patrolling the capital. She did not encounter any dangers along the way, but the snow was getting heavier and heavier, and soon it covered the ground with a thin layer of snow. The layer is covered in white patches.
In order to hide her whereabouts, she only walked along the wall of the square. The narrow wall blocked part of the flying snow, and some traces of blue bricks were exposed on the ground. She passed by lightly without leaving any footprints.
Just when the girl was concentrating on avoiding the cavalry and the whistle, a black figure moved stiffly on the high ridge of the roof.
This dark shadow lay very low, clinging to the high ridge of the roof, like a startled bird, flying forward against the ridge of the roof.
The girl went all the way south, and when she reached the intersection of Xuanpingfang silently, she suddenly stopped, paused, turned around and looked around.
In the dark night, there were no stars or moon, but it was not so dark that I could not see my fingers.
Snow flakes were falling from the sky, and a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the roof, above the walls, and on the ground.
Under the eaves of the lighted roof, the snow flakes streaked across the swaying lights, becoming clearer and clearer.
After only stopping for a moment, the girl's shoulders were already covered with a thin layer of snow.
She raised her head and looked at the ridge of the roof, a sharp look suddenly flashed through her clear eyes, and she looked deeply at the ridge of the roof.
The stacked roof ridges in the distance have been covered with a thick layer of snow. Looking from a distance, it looks like there are countless undulating silver edges on the horizon.
She looked deeply for a long time, frowned, and murmured: "Why not? Could it be that I saw it wrong?"
She flew away, and after running a few steps, she suddenly turned around and looked at the place she had just looked at.
Snow flakes fell quietly, covering the roof ridge layer by layer. It was still quiet there, without any abnormal movement.
Then she slowly breathed a sigh of relief, turned around with a relaxed expression, and headed towards Xinchangfang.
She followed the same pattern and easily climbed over the wall and entered Xinchangfang.
The moment she climbed over the wall, the pile of snow on the roof suddenly moved, shook, and fell down along the roof tiles.
The girl climbed over the wall and came in. The black shadow on the roof ridge swept across the night, and then she lay down on the wall of Xinchangfang.
He did not enter Xinchangfang, but lay motionless on the high wall of the square.
Xinchangfang is not big, and the winding alleys in the square can be seen at a glance.
The girl dodged the people at the north gate and walked straight to the house opposite Qinglong Temple.
There was no plaque hanging on the house, and the ajar door was old and mottled, and the red paint was almost peeling off. The girl didn't knock on the door, she just opened the door a crack and stepped in.
The black shadow followed to the house, reached out and pushed the door. The door was locked from the inside.
He looked up at the surrounding environment. This Xinchangfang is not big, but there are many residents. Such a house is not big but not small in this place. It is also facing the Qinglong Temple, which is an excellent location. 's house.
Whether you buy this place or rent it, you are not a small family.
He gave up the idea of climbing over the wall to go in. After all, the girl was alert and extremely vigilant. He was so far away, and he almost alerted her just now. If he rashly climbed over the wall to eavesdrop, he might be dead before he heard anything. It has been noticed.
Suddenly, the sound of pounding snow came from the door, and the door shook vigorously from the inside.
He was so frightened that he took a few steps back and saw a cold light shining in the crack of the door.
Before he could recover, a threatening sound of snoring came from the door.
"Woof, woof, woof woof."
There seemed to be several dogs in the house, and the dogs barked one after another, which was particularly harsh in the quiet night.
The sound of sharp claws scratching at the door came from behind the door, sizzling, like countless dog paws scratching people's hearts.
He shook three times, secretly glad that he had not tumbled in rashly, otherwise he would have been chased by dogs all over the yard.
He turned to look at Qinglong Temple, his eyes flashed, disrupting the footprints where he stood, then he flew away, went around to the back door of Qinglong Temple, and knocked lightly.
The little novice who was keeping watch at night heard the commotion. He was wearing a half-worn light gray monk's robe. He muttered impatiently and came over to open the door. He saw a man in black clothes, covered with thin snow and broken ice, standing in the night, his eyes The cold ones don't even look like living people.
The little novice felt a chill on the back of his neck. He pinched his collar with his hands and asked in a trembling voice with trembling lips: "Donor, donor, yes, yes, do you still want to stay overnight?"
The man took off the fish bag from his waist, handed it to the young novice monk, and said in a cold voice: "The Internal Security Department is handling the case. Take me to see the presiding officer."
The little novice monk opened the fish bag and took a look. His face suddenly turned pale. He was so frightened that he almost sat down in the snowdrift. His body was shaking and his legs were weak. He held on to the wall before he could stand firm. He frightened the man and asked him to enter the temple. Go to the meditation room.
The lights in the Zen room were still on, and the figures were imprinted on the window paper, looking particularly dignified and solemn.
The young novice knocked on the door and heard the movement inside. He quickly pushed the door open and entered. After saying a few words, the person inside seemed to exclaim, followed by the sound of hurriedly getting up and messy footsteps.
The door of the Zen room opened wide, and a half-hundred monk with a round face and round body came out. He was also wearing a half-worn light gray monk's robe. He saluted the man and said, "Old monk Jueming, the master of Qinglong Temple, has met the young envoy."
It turned out that this man who looked miserable and cold was none other than Han Changmu, who had been poured a basin of water on his face tonight.
Although he was covered in snow and ice, he still caught up with the girl and found out where she was coming from.
This basin of wash water was not wasted.
Han Changmu hurriedly returned the greeting: "Well done, host. I am working on a case late at night and would like to stay in the temple for a night. In addition, there are some things I would like to ask the host for advice on."
Director Jueming twitched his lips. It was not a good thing to be visited by the Department of Internal Health.
This is a small temple and cannot accommodate such a big Buddha.
But he didn't have the courage to expel the young envoy from the Internal Security Department.
His fat and white face was full of smiles, even his folds were squeezed together: "You're welcome, sir. If you have anything to say, please come into the room and ask me. I will definitely tell you everything I know."
Han Changmu thanked him: "Then I'll take charge."
The host Jueming ordered the little novice monk again: "Go and tidy up a good side room. Please come over and have a rest in a while."
Entering the Zen room, you are faced with two futons and a Buddhist niche. A Sanskrit screen separates the inner and outer rooms.
There are no extra decorations in this Zen room, which makes it look extremely simple.
Host Jueming invited Han Changmu to sit outside, poured hot tea with his own hands, and very considerately heated up the fire in the charcoal basin. He pushed the charcoal basin towards Han Changmu, and then asked politely: "I don't know what the young envoy wants to ask me."
Han Changmu took a sip of tea.
Although his clothes were soaked through and the outside was covered with a layer of broken ice and a thin layer of snow, he had always been strong and had served in the army for ten years. This was not cold for him. No matter what, except for the initial shock of a basin of cold water being poured on him, which made him shiver, he quickly regained his composure, and then he didn't even shake his hands during the whole journey.
The charcoal basin was very close to him, and the hot warmth fell on his body. Soon the ice and snow melted and turned into water, which dripped all over the ground.
Pale white mist also began to rise on the soaked clothes.
Seeing that Han Changmu didn't speak, the host Jueming thought it was because he was too cold and needed some relief, so he poured a cup of hot tea very attentively, and even lit a hand stove and put it next to Han Changmu's hand.
He sighed secretly.
It's really hard to maintain anyone's job. It's not easy to maintain the Buddha's job, and it's not easy to secure the saint's job. Look at what kind of sin you are suffering in this world of ice and snow.
Han Changmu drank all the hot tea and spoke slowly: "I wonder if the host knows the house opposite Qinglong Temple."
Host Jueming was stunned for a moment, frowned slightly, as if he was thinking about something, and after a long while he spoke uncertainly: "I have been living in the temple and seldom go out. I hardly know anyone except pilgrims. To the house opposite, No impression."
Han Changmu carefully looked at the expression on the host Jue Ming's face, and found that his face was calm and did not look like he was lying, so he nodded: "I don't know how many monks there are in Qinglong Temple."
Master Jueming smiled: "Qinglong Temple is a small temple, and there are four monks in total including Lao Na."
"So, do they know what's going on outside?" Han Changmu asked calmly as he took a sip of tea.
Host Jueming immediately understood what Han Changmu meant, and just as he was about to get up and walk out, the young novice monk who was on duty just now came in and reported that the side room had been tidied up.
Master Jueming ordered in a deep voice: "Go and call your two senior brothers over. The young envoy has something to ask."
The little novice monk was stunned for a moment, a little hesitant.
When he came over just now, he saw that the lights in the meditation rooms of the two senior brothers had been turned off. It was already dark, and he thought they had gone to bed long ago.
On such a cold winter night, it would be so inhumane to pull someone out of their warm bed.
Director Jueming is a clear-minded person. He understands that since Han Changmu broke in late at night, it means that this case is very important. The things he asked are even more important. If he did not gather all the disciples late at night, he would wait until dawn tomorrow to ask questions. If anything goes wrong, he and everyone at Qinglong Temple will be involved.
In order to clear away the suspicion, let alone pulling him out of the hot bed, even under the Buddha's lotus platform, he had to be dragged back.
He waved his hand and said anxiously: "Go quickly."
Soon, there was a chaotic banging on the door, and several people walked in muttering. Although their faces were full of sleepiness and impatience, they did not dare to go in front of them because of the illustrious name of the Internal Security Department. Say something ugly.
Han Changmu looked at the three of them and saw that the little novice on night duty was indeed the youngest, while the other two monks were all in their twenties, not tall, and with a sturdy build.
